Playoffs with Pact - Guard, Block, Tackle or Claw?

[Shteve0]

Hi guys

Little help appreciated.

My pact team has got a lot further in our local league than I honestly expected, and despite a pretty poor record in the regular season (W4 D1 L7) have cleared two rounds of the playoffs and approach the semi final with a dilemma.

Here's the team as it stands: http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=25

Basically a 12 man team with extras and a lot of stat boosts:
3 vanilla linemen
2 +ST linemen (1 with MB & SKILL, 1 with guard)
3 big guys (mino has juggs, ogre has guard)
2 x 6348 Block Dodge players (elf has animosity)
MA7, two heads goblin
Wrestle, Fend skaven
3RR, Apoth, 2 coach, 1 cheer

I had three block linemen (one with leader) die in consecutive games - my last three games of the regular season - and that really set back my team development, but in spite of that things are looking okay.

The dilemma now; the semi finals are drawn on the night (a week today) and I will go into a draw with three of the following (the remaining quarter finalists):

High Elf - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=38
High Elf 2 - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=33
Khorne - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=22
Chaos - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=21
Vampire - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=32
or the scariest 12 game Orc team I've ever seen - http://nzcbbl.obblm.com/index.php?secti ... &obj_id=28

So what should I take on this ST4 MB player? I'm short on tackle, block, guard and claw. What would you do in my shoes?

Cheers

Steve

[MKL]

Tough call.
With these 2 +St you can skip Guard (my usual choice).
To me it's Tackle (every team got at least 1 blodge) or Claw (because... Well, you know).
Do you feel stronger against Bash or Agility? I would take the skill that compensate my weak spot.

[Stimme]

I am voting for a reliable Block-Mighty Blow killer.
Is one of your potential opponents Madcruel?

[Shteve0]

nope - don't know who s/he is I'm afraid. This is a TT league in Wellington NZ

The team I've had the biggest problem with this year is actually the Vampire side (due to play one of the high elf teams for a SF place tonight) - a whole load of blodge ST4 AG4 players is quite difficult to take the ball off. I have a wrestle skaven player but with AV7 he might not be enough, so Tackle appeals for that side of things. Conversely I also had problems shutting down the orc team, but I doubt a single clawmb player will be enough to take down a side with a deep bench. Tackle may be the front runner here, since where I need it I'm not likely to want to take the both down with this guy, even if I have block, against ball carrying blodgers.

Update wise, the Chaos team was taken out by the h.elf team with the ST4 AG5 block/leap blitzer, so that's one fewer bash team in the playoffs. The Orcs were looking in good shape against Khorne (though a BT/MB/Claw/Frenzy/Horns/Regen Bloodthirster could still do them some damage even if they end up getting through). As before, the Vamps vs the other h.elf team play off tonight to decide the fourth semi-final slot.

Leaning towards tackle as an elf/vamp deterrent, though whether a single tackle player is going to be enough... oh, how I wish those block linemen had survived to Lvl3

[Heff]

That str4 guy WILL turn you over without block. That would be my choice.

[Overhamsteren]

Tough call but I would probably go for Tackle, needing pows is just awful sometimes. Guess you do have the wrestle rat (and minotaur - 6 dice blitz) but still would go tackle for more anti blodge and some possible damage on said blodgers.

[Smeborg]

I agree that Tackle looks best against these opponents. You are facing very little AV9, so Tackle ought to be better than Claw (but Claw would be the obvious skill at 51SPPs). You could consider Horns at 76 SPPs if you want to dream.

Guard would be a second option, but seems a little dull.

With all the stat increases, this ought to be a very good team in time, but as is usually the case, basic skills are what you lack for now.

All the best.

[Shteve0]

Cheers guys - I went with Tackle. The four semi finalists are confirmed as Orcs, my Pact, and the two elf teams (both with ST4 leap blitzers, but no strip ball). Needless to say I'd prefer either of the elf teams, so have prepared accordingly!

Smeborg, all good points - though as you say those SPP numbers are but a distant dream! I have only two more games this season (semis then final or 3PP) before the jig's up... on to Slann for the new campaign! We'll be keeping all the teams that complete a season (any season) logged into a "Masters" perpetual league though, so they may yet see more play in friendlies or off-season grudge matches later down the line.

Cheers!

S

[Fassbinder75]

Can I ask why you went with Wrestle + Fend on the Skaven? That seems terrible to me. Frenzy, Horns, Tackle are all normal rolls, I'd sack this guy and re-start him.

[Shteve0]

Fair question, though sack and rebuy seems a bit extreme... I have two games left with the team and it's not like he's not worth the cost at this point. He fills quite a useful role, both on offense and defense. I actually quite like him as he is... obviously dodge would be awesome too, but he was a late addition to the squad and I've skilled him up with keeping him alive in mind.